Ice creeper



19, 1939- c. DERWING ICE GREEPER Filed July 14, 1938 PQ V 0e 0 2 3mm A v 6 mmwm m C Patented Dec. 19, 1939 NHTE il 'i'ET OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention more particularly relates to an ice creeper which may readily be attached to and detached from a. shoe or the like and which comprises two complementary clamping elements which are secured to opposite sides of the shoe. I am aware that it has hitherto been proposed to provide two resilient clamping elements which were clamped to opposite sides of a shoe. Such device, however, was not clamped to the shoe in such a way as to prevent movement thereof longitudinally of the shoe. Furthermore, the two clamping elements of the device there suggested were secured together by means of a bolt which it would, in practice, he difficult to adjust for shoes of different sizes.

In accordance with my invention two substantially rigid clamping elements are secured to opposite sides of a shoe by resilient means which permit of the device being readily adjusted to shoes of differing sizes. Means are also provided for positively preventing movement of the device longitudinally of the shoe.

Other objects of my invention will appear in the specification and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which I have illustrated the preferred embodiment thereof and in which Fig. l is a fragmentary side view of a shoe illustrating the device embodying my invention applied to the heel thereof;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the ice creeper embodying my invention; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, it indicates generally the two clamping elements embodying my invention each comprising angle plates H and 52 which are adapted to engage opposite sides of the heel of a shoe or the like, plates Ho and 52a engaging the bottom of the heel on opposite sides thereof, and Nb and lZb engaging the sides of the heel, the plates Ma and life being provided with downwardly extending teeth or calls l3 which are preferably bevelled to a cutting edge i l adapted to out into ice to prevent slippage. The teeth may conveniently be formed of short pins which are inserted in holes 15 in the angle plates H and 62, where they may be secured in any desired manner as by welding, and when two teeth are provided for each of the plates, the cutting teeth of one of the pins extends in a direction at angle to that of the other in order to prevent slippage in all directions. In case more than two teeth are provided for a plate H or 2, then the cutting edges of some of the teeth extend at an angle to those 5 of the others. The upper edge of the portions lib and !2b of the angle plates H and i2 are preferably provided with laterally extending spurs it (Fig. 3) which cut into the heel of the shoe and assist in holding the elements in position.

Each clamping element is also provided with a portion ll, preferably in the form of an angle plate preferably integral with the angle plate l I or E2 and having an inwardly extending flange 58 which is substantially parallel to the portions Ma and Mid of the heel engaging portions of the clamping element and which engage the forward vertical edge of the heel and thus prevent rearward movement of the clamping device on the shoe. The vertical portion Id of the angle plate El is provided with a laterally extending lip or lug 28 which is received between the sole and the upper at the shank of the shoe. It will be noted that the portion of the shank which is engaged by the lip 26 is inclined from the front towards the rear inwardly so that the device would be biased to move rearwardly but for the flange l8 which engages the front edge of the heel and prevents such movement.

The two clamping elements are secured together by a resilient element 2! which is here shown as a helical spring provided at its ends with eyes 22 which engage openings 23 in the horizontally extending portion E8 of the angle irons l1.

While I have illustrated my invention in connection with a conventional form of shoe, it will, of course, be understood that it is also applicable to boots, rubbers and other footwear.

The device embodying my invention may readily be applied to the heel of a shoe by spreading the two clamping elements against the resistance offered by the spring 22 until the two clamping elements engage opposite sides of the shoe and the coil spring then retains the same in clamping position on the shoe. It will, of course, be understood that similar clamping elements are applied to each shoe.

It will be obvious that the clamping device embodying my invention may readily be adjusted for shoes of varying sizes by the simple expedient of securing the two clamping elements together with springs of differing lengths.

Hence, while I have described my invention in its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the words which I have used are words of description and not of limitation and that changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of my invention in its broader aspects.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, two clamping elements each having a portion engageable with the heel and shank of a shoe or the like said portion being provided with a mem-v ber positioned to engage the front of the heel of said shoe thereby preventing movement of said clamping element rearwardly, respective elements engaging opposite sides of the shoe, and a helical spring connecting said elements to retain the same in engagement with the shoe, said elements being provided with downwardly extending ice engaging teeth.

2. In a device of the character described, two complementary clamping elements each comprising an angle plate adaptable to engage a side and bottom of a heel or the like, and a forwardly extending member provided with a laterally extending lip adapted to be received between the sole and the upper at the shank, said forwardly extending member having an inwardly extending flange adapted to engage the front of a heel of a shoe or the like, each of said clamping elements being provided with ice engaging teeth.

3. In a device of the character described, two complementary clamping elements each comprising angular portion adapted to engage a bottom and a side of a heel of a shoe or the like and a forwardly extending member provided with a laterally extending lip adapted to be received between the sole and upper at the shank of said shoe, said forwardly extending member having an inwardly extending flange adapted to engage the front edge of a heel of a shoe or the like to which the device is applied, each of said angular portions which engage the bottom portion of the heel being provided with downwardly extending ice engaging teeth.

4. In a device of the character described, two complementary clamping elements each comprising two angle irons engageable with the bottom and a side of a heel of a shoe or the like, the portion engageable with the bottom of the heel being provided with ice engaging teeth each of said elements also comprising a second forwardly extending angle iron one portion of which is disposed substantially parallel to the portion of said first angle iron which engages the bottom of the heel and the rear edge of which is engageable with the front of a heel of a shoe or the like, and a resilient element connecting said clamping elements.

5. In an ice creeper, two complementary clamping elements each comprising a first angle iron engageable with the bottom and side of a heel of a shoe or the like, the portion engageable with the bottom of the heel being provided with ice engaging teeth, each of said elements also comprising a second forwardly extending angle iron one portion of which is disposed substantially parallel with said angle iron and the rear edge of which is engageable with the front edge of the heel of a shoe or the like, and a coil spring connecting the horizontally extending flanges of said second angle iron and securing said elements against opposite sides of a shoe or the like.

6. In a device of the character described, two complementary clamping elements each comprising a first angle iron engageable with the bottom and side of the heel of a shoe or the like, the portions engageable with the bottom of the heel being provided with ice engaging teeth, each of said elements also comprising a second forwardly extending angle iron one portion of which is disposed substantially parallel to the portion of first said angle iron which engages the bottom of the heel and the rear edge of which is engageable with the front edge of a heel of a shoe or the like, said second forwardly extending angle iron having a laterally extending lip adapted to be received between the sole and the upper of a shoe, and a coil spring connecting said horizontally extending flanges of said second angle iron for securing said elements against opposite sides of a shoe or the like.

CHARLES E. DERWING. 

